INTERVIEW PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail is a decisive leader with a "soft, motherly and diplomatic" style of leadership, says the party’s secretary-general Rafizi Ramli.

This is a plus because it enables her to moderate the strong personalities in DAP, Amanah, and PAS, Rafizi stressed.

In an interview with Malaysiakini and KiniTV last week, the MP for Pandan again came to the defence of his boss.

Wan Azizah was often seen as a reluctant and soft politician who had to step in repeatedly on behalf of her husband - PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim, who was jailed in 1998 and again in February this year.

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang had even openly questioned her capabilities when PKR and DAP attempted to install her as the new Selangor menteri besar during what was termed as the ‘Kajang Move’.

More recently, only some 20 opposition lawmakers voted against Budget 2016 at the third reading in the Dewan Rakyat, despite fiery objections during its second reading.

Rafizi said questions were raised about her just because she is a woman and regarded as soft. “Do you want her to become like Rosmah (Mansor, the prime minister's wife)? I am sure people don't want her like that.

"Leadership styles differ from one person to another. A leader should be judged on the effectiveness of the decisions made.

“She made the difficult call to launch Pakatan Harapan amid doubts, questions and misgivings.

"She had made the decision on PKR's position on hudud, which was very difficult and tricky as it involved Malay sentiment and it was far more complicated than the issues we had gone through.

"In terms of effectiveness in decision-making, she is as decisive, if not more decisive than most leaders.

"I think she is very effective because, in order to deal with the very strong personalities from DAP, Amanah and PAS, what is needed is a soft and diplomatic, yet decisive leader.

"Leadership actually requires different styles at different times. I think at this time, when the people know they need a change (in government), what we need is a very united opposition. That is what she is about and what she provides," Rafizi stressed.

Also present were PKR treasurer Tan Yee Kew, strategy director Sim Tze Tzin and youth wing secretary-general Chang Lih Kang.

Sim asserted that Wan Azizah had led the party through some very difficult times.

"Hell broke loose after Anwar was jailed in February, but she handled that. She also had to navigate through the turbulence of the hudud controversy. In addition there was the breaking up of Pakatan Rakyat, as well as PAS splitting into two. Things are now very stable, compared withsix months ago," Sim said.

"She has managed to bring everyone together. That is totally due to her leadership and we should appreciate that," the Bayan Baru parliamentarian added.

'PKR has strong second-liners'

On concerns raised against the opposition party for lacking a succession plan, Rafizi said this was an unfair perception.

“Compared with other parties, the percentage of young, second-line leaders in PKR is the highest. Three of our vice-presidents are below 40. Our deputy president is only 51.

"You don't even see that in DAP, PAS, or Amanah," Rafizi said, adding that the party has no problems in its succession plan.

"We have navigated three or four political crises, from hudud, to the break-up of Pakatan Rakyat and the formation of Pakatan Harapan, as well as the scandals of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, because there is a strong second-line leadership that supports the president.

"Anwar is the alternative leader for the nation. Given the political crisis arising out of Najib's scandals, there is no other person to lead the country (apart from Anwar).

He added that he believes the people miss Anwar very much and that if he was around, things would be slightly different.

"At the end of the day, Anwar represents the hope that brought Malaysians to where we are today. If not for his vision, we wouldn't have a united Opposition," Rafizi said.

Part 1: Rope in PAS or risk losing GE again, Rafizi cautions

Part 2: PKR: ‘Balik kampung’ voters only way to unseat BN